GT86 test drive
Discussion
Took one out for a little run today, and after nearly six years away from something 'sporty' it felt great. Weather was pretty wet too so the tail was wagging nicely exiting some quiet roundabouts, and the car had a really nice feel to it. As we all know it isn't that fast (the Saab shed I drove to the dealer's is quicker in a straight line) and I wasn't sure about the enhanced artificial engine noise which seems to be all to common these days, but a really good car altogether and i am seriously tempted. I drove the manual, however, the two pedal option will be an easier sell to the missus, has anyone driven them both? I know the auto is a tad slower, but is the experience of driving it the same as the manual? They have an auto demo and I'll try to get along next week to test it.
Anyway, i am a bit of a serial almost-buyer, but this does seem to be right for me, fun, cheap(ish), can carry one of the offspring if required, reliable (I would hope). The only real moan was that at 6'2" the headroom felt tight, even with the seat all the way down. Might be a bit cosy with a helmet on.
Buuuuut, and as usual it is a big but... As much as I hate the new vs old argument, when I was driving it, I kept thinking "is what a 968 CS feels like?" Grrrr
Anyway, i am a bit of a serial almost-buyer, but this does seem to be right for me, fun, cheap(ish), can carry one of the offspring if required, reliable (I would hope). The only real moan was that at 6'2" the headroom felt tight, even with the seat all the way down. Might be a bit cosy with a helmet on.
Buuuuut, and as usual it is a big but... As much as I hate the new vs old argument, when I was driving it, I kept thinking "is what a 968 CS feels like?" Grrrr
I used to own a 944 S2 (very close to a 968 cs) and have driven a gt86 a couple of times. The one thing I'd say is that if you're after a gf-friendly car, a front engined porsche isn't it. The controls are all heavy, its difficult to judge the nose, and it can get a bit warm inside. My other half hated it (not why I got rid)
Was looking forward to getting in one of these at last.
Seriously thinking of getting one and it's taken a while to get one in my local dealer. They run an auto as a demonstrator (Seriously why would anyone run a torque convertor auto of this car ! )
So impressions of the extensive test drive. (GT86 in this case)
Its an attractive nicely proportioned shape with typical Japanese styling cues. Cabin is slightly less successful with modest materials and some cheap plastics but , a perfect driving position, fine seats and lovely steering wheel
Super slick gear change and nicely placed pedals mean its easy peasy to guide through traffic.
With a bit of room on dry day down my favourite road its strengths and weaknesses are more obvious. The steering, chassis balance and feel are all top drawer , its not quite so loose on a grippy dry day but its adjustable and progressive
But the engine is such a let down. Its a Subaru Boxer 4 with none of the character of the turbo charged cousins. I don't get it. How can the Impreza boxer 4s breathe through turbos and still have that offbeat thrummy characteristic noise but this is so flat. The lack of torque has been well high lighted of course and it needs to be driven hard to get decent pace (Which is OK if you wring its neck ) but its such a joyless task doing that.
Really, its annoyingly loud, and not in a good way, most of the time but pretty feeble too. Disappointing.
It would be much much better with a turbocharged motor, even one of a smaller displacement.
Seriously thinking of getting one and it's taken a while to get one in my local dealer. They run an auto as a demonstrator (Seriously why would anyone run a torque convertor auto of this car ! )
So impressions of the extensive test drive. (GT86 in this case)
Its an attractive nicely proportioned shape with typical Japanese styling cues. Cabin is slightly less successful with modest materials and some cheap plastics but , a perfect driving position, fine seats and lovely steering wheel
Super slick gear change and nicely placed pedals mean its easy peasy to guide through traffic.
With a bit of room on dry day down my favourite road its strengths and weaknesses are more obvious. The steering, chassis balance and feel are all top drawer , its not quite so loose on a grippy dry day but its adjustable and progressive
But the engine is such a let down. Its a Subaru Boxer 4 with none of the character of the turbo charged cousins. I don't get it. How can the Impreza boxer 4s breathe through turbos and still have that offbeat thrummy characteristic noise but this is so flat. The lack of torque has been well high lighted of course and it needs to be driven hard to get decent pace (Which is OK if you wring its neck ) but its such a joyless task doing that.
Really, its annoyingly loud, and not in a good way, most of the time but pretty feeble too. Disappointing.
It would be much much better with a turbocharged motor, even one of a smaller displacement.
Dblue said:
I don't get it. How can the Impreza boxer 4s breathe through turbos and still have that offbeat thrummy characteristic noise but this is so flat.
The noise made by the Impreza's engine isn't directly to do with it being a boxer, it's caused by the engine's greatly unequal length exhaust headers. A N/A engine needs equal length headers so it can scavenge efficiently (a turbo can't scavenge properly anyway).You could make an inline four sound much like an Impreza by fitting a rather convoluted exhaust manifold if you really wanted to. You could make a GT86 sound like an Impreza for that matter too, but you'd probably lose 20bhp.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 22 April 23:09
LasseV said:
Noise is not artificially made, it has only tube which lead the noise a little bit better to the cabin. Totally different thing.
Go for gt86. It is much cheaper to run than 968, better looking and it is very easily modify to have like 200whp.
I don't have any problem with the tricks used to allow you to hear the engine just the poor quality of the noise itself.Go for gt86. It is much cheaper to run than 968, better looking and it is very easily modify to have like 200whp.
Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
Dblue said:
I don't have any problem with the tricks used to allow you to hear the engine just the poor quality of the noise itself.
Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
Changing exhaust solves that noise problem. To get circa 200whp out of that motor doesn't cost 5000£... Tune+exhaust+intake and maybe new header and you are there. FA20 is no doubt the best new 2.0 motor at the moment. You can have a lot of power out of it but it is enjoyable in standard disguise too.Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
LasseV said:
Dblue said:
I don't have any problem with the tricks used to allow you to hear the engine just the poor quality of the noise itself.
Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
Changing exhaust solves that noise problem. To get circa 200whp out of that motor doesn't cost 5000£... Tune+exhaust+intake and maybe new header and you are there. FA20 is no doubt the best new 2.0 motor at the moment. You can have a lot of power out of it but it is enjoyable in standard disguise too.Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
I have owned my BRZ for 6 months, 5k miles and 3 track days.
The more I get to know it, the more I love it. The chassis is so beautifully balanced, it reminds you what driving is all about.
The engine is not underpowered and has superb throttle response. At Cadwell this weekend, there was little in it between my BRZ and my friend's MK1 Boxster S. I also own a 300bhp Impreza P1, and putting that engine in the BRZ would ruin it.
This is not the car for pub boasting, but if you enjoy driving, I mean really enjoy driving, this is one of the best cars you can buy.
The more I get to know it, the more I love it. The chassis is so beautifully balanced, it reminds you what driving is all about.
The engine is not underpowered and has superb throttle response. At Cadwell this weekend, there was little in it between my BRZ and my friend's MK1 Boxster S. I also own a 300bhp Impreza P1, and putting that engine in the BRZ would ruin it.
This is not the car for pub boasting, but if you enjoy driving, I mean really enjoy driving, this is one of the best cars you can buy.
LimaDelta said:
LasseV said:
Dblue said:
I don't have any problem with the tricks used to allow you to hear the engine just the poor quality of the noise itself.
Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
Changing exhaust solves that noise problem. To get circa 200whp out of that motor doesn't cost 5000£... Tune+exhaust+intake and maybe new header and you are there. FA20 is no doubt the best new 2.0 motor at the moment. You can have a lot of power out of it but it is enjoyable in standard disguise too.Its horribly uninspiring.
Its also not easy to modify it, its a £5,000 project with all sorts of warranty issues
Exhaust + Parts you suggest £2.5k anyway (And junk the warranty whilst you're at it )
And I'm sorry its nowhere near the best 2 litre engine out there regardless.
If you like NA revvy engines, it is excellent. It has great throttle response, is surprisingly flexible, yet pulls hard towards the redline. And it gives 40mpg on a run.
It is very quiet from the outside, but there are loads of aftermarket exhaust options (e.g. Milltek) if that is your bag.
Interesting fact: the specified engine oil viscosity is 0w20.
It is very quiet from the outside, but there are loads of aftermarket exhaust options (e.g. Milltek) if that is your bag.
Interesting fact: the specified engine oil viscosity is 0w20.
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